Fear of Losing Benefits (by Tammy Flanagan)

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Recently, Government Executive’s research unit, the Government Business Council, conducted an in-depth research study of federal employees. The results revealed some interesting trends.

Most of the people who responded to the survey (68 percent) were planning to retire within the next five years, with another 25 percent saying they were likely to leave government within the next 15 years. These are typical of the audiences I address at pre-retirement or mid-career planning seminars. Nearly 900 people took the survey, representing more than 30 civilian federal agencies and defense organizations. Read more

OPM Policy Change on Divorce Matters – URGENT (by: Dan Jamison)

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OPM has silently changed the way that they process divorce court orders.  If you have been divorced, and a portion of your annuity was awarded to your former spouse, YOU MUST READ THIS.

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Federal Long-Term Care Premiums Rising by Triple Digits

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Planning for Long Term Care is such an important component of your retirement plan.  However, the continual rate increases of the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program are a major cause of concern among federal employees.  Enrollees are facing an average increase of 83% in 2016. Read more

Accelerate the Tax Efficiency of Roth TSP Distributions

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Given the fear of future tax increases, why aren’t more federal employees utilizing the Roth TSP to provide a buffer from future taxes?

I ask this question all the time during workshops and individual sessions with federal employees. The most popular responses are: (1) I don’t understand how the Roth TSP works, (2) I will be in a lower tax bracket in retirement, and (3) I don’t like the withdrawal limitations of the Roth TSP.

If you would like to get a better understanding of how the Roth TSP works, click here to request Chapter 5: The Roth TSP, from my book: FedSavvy, Tools and Tips to Maximize Your Federal Benefits.

 

Avoid Abandoning Your TSP

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Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) must be taken from an employer retirement plan by April 1st following the year you turn age 70 1/2 (unless you are still employed by that employer), to avoid a 50% IRS penalty of the RMD that was not taken. If you don’t take the RMD by December 31st of the year you turn 70 ½ and instead, take it by April 1st of the following year, you will avoid the 50% penalty but you will have to take two RMD’s that year.

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